Cubismo Grafico - Happy New Year!!! Happy New Yeah!!!
01 - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
02 - the christmas song
03 - grown up christmas list
04 - ill be home for christmas
05 - white christmas
06 - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (live)
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Reading the comments on Christmas a Go Go! I noticed a few requests for re-uploads of last years songs.
Well, normally I wouldn't, but since it's still Christmas, how can I refuse? Here they are:
Pizzicato Five - 24 decembre (single version)
Cusbismo Grafico - Ave Maria
Handsome Boy Technique - Our Belssing
Pizzicato Five - 24 decembre (Handsome Boy Technique Yikes! Peach Cut 5' 24"!! mix)
See you all next year :)
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December 25th has finally arrived!
Thanks for taking time out of your holiday to visit us at the yuleblog - especially to all of our first time visitors who are looking in today!
Earlier this morning, I woke up, got dressed quickly, and ran quietly downstairs past the bedrooms of my kids. I wasn't heading to see if Santa came and left presents under the tree. I ran past the tree, past the fireplace where the stockings were hung and bulging with flair, and past the fridge (a major accomplishment for me in the AM).
I headed outdoors like a kid running to see what was under the Christmas tree. I braved the Christmas cold to retrieve my copy of the Journal-Gazette, the morning newspaper of my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Emma Downs has been writing for the newspaper for several years. Last week, she called me about my annual Christmas CDs and my Christmas music obsession after receiving a copy of my annual Christmas CD.
A phone interview was arranged, I supplied several pictures from my music collection, and the story was published today - of all days! What a Christmas present!
The story takes up the entire front page of their features section! Here's the online link to the article:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071225/FEAT/712250356
As I sit here basking in the glow of my computer monitor and the Christmas tree lights, only three words can describe how I feel right now:
Thanks for taking time out of your holiday to visit us at the yuleblog - especially to all of our first time visitors who are looking in today!
Earlier this morning, I woke up, got dressed quickly, and ran quietly downstairs past the bedrooms of my kids. I wasn't heading to see if Santa came and left presents under the tree. I ran past the tree, past the fireplace where the stockings were hung and bulging with flair, and past the fridge (a major accomplishment for me in the AM).
I headed outdoors like a kid running to see what was under the Christmas tree. I braved the Christmas cold to retrieve my copy of the Journal-Gazette, the morning newspaper of my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Emma Downs has been writing for the newspaper for several years. Last week, she called me about my annual Christmas CDs and my Christmas music obsession after receiving a copy of my annual Christmas CD.
A phone interview was arranged, I supplied several pictures from my music collection, and the story was published today - of all days! What a Christmas present!
The story takes up the entire front page of their features section! Here's the online link to the article:
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071225/FEAT/712250356
As I sit here basking in the glow of my computer monitor and the Christmas tree lights, only three words can describe how I feel right now:
GREAT
JUMPIN'
ICEBERGS!
JUMPIN'
ICEBERGS!
In case you were wondering - The shelves are divided in three sections:
The left section is my CD collection.
The middle section music is ALL my Christmas CDs.
The right section is my wife's CD collection
and knickknacks that will be evicted in the near future.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
to everyone reading,
everywhere.
Rob Martinez
aka CaptainOT
The left section is my CD collection.
The middle section music is ALL my Christmas CDs.
The right section is my wife's CD collection
and knickknacks that will be evicted in the near future.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
to everyone reading,
everywhere.
Rob Martinez
aka CaptainOT
Today it's yu-ni-gatsu ni-yu-yoka again: 10+2-month, 2x10+4-day. In other words: 12/24.
I posted two versions of this song last year, this is the album version (very different from last year's single versions), sung by Ronnie of the Scooters. Enjoy :)
Pizzicato Five : 24 decembre
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The Blues Are Still Blue Presents:Christmas Compilation 2007:
Nellie McKay - Christmas Dirge
James Brown - Soulful Christmas
June Christy - The Merriest
Irene - Christmas On The Beach
Milton DeLugg & The Little Eskimos - Hooray for Santy Claus!
Mae West - Put The Loot In The Boot, Santa
The Pipettes - White Christmas
Michele Cody - Merry Christmas Elvis
Rufus Thomas - I'll Be Your Santa, Baby
Shonen Knife - Space Christmas
Andre Williams - Poor Mr. Santa
Rufus Wainwright - Spotlight On Christmas
The Free Design - Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas)
Solomon Burke - Presents On Christmas
Brenda Lee - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Ivy - I Hate December
The Young Republic - Merry Christmas Again...
Willie Nelson - Please Come Home For Christmas
Carla Thomas - Gee Whiz, It's Christmas
Over The Rhine - All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue
Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa
Cocoon - Christmas Song
Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Elvis Presley - Santa Bring My Baby Back
Eux Autres - Another Christmas At Home
Gayla Peavey - I Want A Hippo For Christmas
Holly Golightly - Christmas Tree On Fire
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In my opinion the best album by a Dutch artist this year, Life Is Short by Lucky Fonz III, contains a song that has a small link with Christmas (or at least the title of the song is a reference to Christmas). If you like what you here and want to here some more of Lucky Fonz III go here.Lucky Fonz III - Christmas Lights In A Cave (Life Is Short)
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Repost from last year of a song that made my top X-Mas songs. (Even though I'm not even sure it is a Christmas song, it really has that feeling though). It's so gooood. This year I also found a (quite different) but lovely version by French femme Mireille Mathieu. It has her sound, German sung with a French accent. Very nice!
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German singer Lula teamed up with Wayne Jackson for a wall-of-soundalike duet, wishing all y'all a merry x-mas.
Lula & Wayne Jackson - Merry Christmas
More here, here, and here
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Froehliche Weihnachten, Craciun Fericit, Joyeux Noël, Buon Natale, Merry Christmas, Shinnen Omedeto, Polit Nadal, Pozdrevlyayu Prazdnikom Rozhdestva, Bon Nadal, Bo Nadal, Zorionak, God Jul, Boas Festas, Idah Saidan, Kala Christougenna Kieftihismenos, Zalig Kerstfeest...¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!
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Over the past week and a half, I have been helping my 2nd grade son Alex prepare for his stage debut. He won a choice role in a school production that featured him as one of the Three Kings who refuses to get on a "lumpy old camel".
When I first sat down with him last week, I was surprised to discover that most of his dialogue was burned into his memory. We worked on a few lines, worked a couple of gestures, and voila! A star was born.
My first grade daughter Maggie was also in the play - as a member of the chorus. She sang songs to the both of us and it was a genuine kick to hear both of them sing Christmas songs around the house.
It all came down to last night when they took the stage for the first time:
The play began at 6:30 PM but my family and I arrived at 5:45 to secure good seats. When we arrived, we had found squatters already taking up much of the first several rows of the gym. By 6:15, it looked like the deck of the Titanic with people scrambling around for any available seat.
Not to be outdone, my three year old daughter Josie wanted to get into the act. So this is why this picture is here but come on, ain't she cute? Her personality is really sharpening into focus as she is maturing into a beautiful little girl (with flashes of hellcat).
At 6:30 PM, the chorus were led into the gym. This prompted every mom, dad, grandmother, cousin, niece, nephew, and teacher to grab their digital cameras and cell phone cameras. Hollywood premieres seldom have this many pictures taken.
Ten minutes later, the featured performers were walked into the gym - this was the first time I saw Alex's finished costume:
Props to Jenny Andorfer and Monica Zwick - the costumers of the play! I looked over at my mother-in-law and she had tears in her eyes. Alex even walked regal. I was thanking the patron saint of theater for the great seats.
The play began with some original songs about shooting stars. Four other kids dressed as shooting stars took the stage and asked "General Comet Powell" about the story of the Nativity. Through song and corny jokes, the greatest story ever told was delivered.
Throughout the play, Maggie was stationed at the back of one section of kids (it helps being a tall kid). Occasionally we made eye contact and she flashed her winning smile and the small finger wave. As for the other kids, look at the kid directly in front of Maggie - pictures do say 1000 words.
Alex's point in the play finally came and he delivered his lines perfectly and humorously. He refuses to cross the desert via camel and a song is sung by the entire cast demanding him to "get on that camel":
I'm not sure what is funnier - the chorus of shooting stars pointing toward the camel, one of the three kings trying to push Alex onto the camel, or Alex standing firm with arms outstretched and refusing to ride. Needless to say, I was one of the people in the audience leading the guffaws.
After the camel complains about the "carry-on" baggage, the Third King finally relents and decides to get aboard the camel. "One lump or two?" asks the camel. Blackout. Scene change. Much applause.
To paraphrase Linus from "A Charlie Brown Christmas", this is what Christmas is all about.
One more shopping weekend to go. A hundred presents need to be wrapped at our household (and yours too probably). People will be driving everywhere this weekend - stay safe.
There is a MAJOR surprise coming on Christmas Day here at the yuleblog. No fair peeking under the tree on this one! Stay tuned...
Capt
When I first sat down with him last week, I was surprised to discover that most of his dialogue was burned into his memory. We worked on a few lines, worked a couple of gestures, and voila! A star was born.
My first grade daughter Maggie was also in the play - as a member of the chorus. She sang songs to the both of us and it was a genuine kick to hear both of them sing Christmas songs around the house.
It all came down to last night when they took the stage for the first time:
The play began at 6:30 PM but my family and I arrived at 5:45 to secure good seats. When we arrived, we had found squatters already taking up much of the first several rows of the gym. By 6:15, it looked like the deck of the Titanic with people scrambling around for any available seat.
Not to be outdone, my three year old daughter Josie wanted to get into the act. So this is why this picture is here but come on, ain't she cute? Her personality is really sharpening into focus as she is maturing into a beautiful little girl (with flashes of hellcat).
At 6:30 PM, the chorus were led into the gym. This prompted every mom, dad, grandmother, cousin, niece, nephew, and teacher to grab their digital cameras and cell phone cameras. Hollywood premieres seldom have this many pictures taken.
Ten minutes later, the featured performers were walked into the gym - this was the first time I saw Alex's finished costume:
Props to Jenny Andorfer and Monica Zwick - the costumers of the play! I looked over at my mother-in-law and she had tears in her eyes. Alex even walked regal. I was thanking the patron saint of theater for the great seats.
The play began with some original songs about shooting stars. Four other kids dressed as shooting stars took the stage and asked "General Comet Powell" about the story of the Nativity. Through song and corny jokes, the greatest story ever told was delivered.
Throughout the play, Maggie was stationed at the back of one section of kids (it helps being a tall kid). Occasionally we made eye contact and she flashed her winning smile and the small finger wave. As for the other kids, look at the kid directly in front of Maggie - pictures do say 1000 words.
Alex's point in the play finally came and he delivered his lines perfectly and humorously. He refuses to cross the desert via camel and a song is sung by the entire cast demanding him to "get on that camel":
I'm not sure what is funnier - the chorus of shooting stars pointing toward the camel, one of the three kings trying to push Alex onto the camel, or Alex standing firm with arms outstretched and refusing to ride. Needless to say, I was one of the people in the audience leading the guffaws.
After the camel complains about the "carry-on" baggage, the Third King finally relents and decides to get aboard the camel. "One lump or two?" asks the camel. Blackout. Scene change. Much applause.
To paraphrase Linus from "A Charlie Brown Christmas", this is what Christmas is all about.
One more shopping weekend to go. A hundred presents need to be wrapped at our household (and yours too probably). People will be driving everywhere this weekend - stay safe.
There is a MAJOR surprise coming on Christmas Day here at the yuleblog. No fair peeking under the tree on this one! Stay tuned...
Capt
Did you know that the melody of German Christmas carol O Tannenbaum is also used for the official state songs of Iowa and Maryland? And that the Britisch Labour Party used it for their hymn The Red Flag? And that waaaay back in 1990, three Dutch guys called De Ideale Schoonzonen (the ideal sons-in-law) mashed it up with Simple Minds' millionseller Don't You Forget About Me?
Now you do. (Thanks Luba)
De Ideale Schoonzonen - Oh!! Denneboom
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The headline means that Keren Ann recorded a version of Silent Night, not that she is silent, or does not sing no more. Heaven forbid.
Keren Ann - Silent Night
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Listen up holiday loungers. Dim the lights, mix a drink, light the fire and grab that special someone. Here are the original swingers - Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme and a classic Christmas record called That Holiday Feeling! No swanky Christmas music collection is complete without it.
STEVE LAWRENCE & EYDIE GORME :: THAT HOLIDAY FEELING!
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It's really cold here in Holland and I don't like that. I'd rather be sitting on a warm beach with the sun burning my skin and a cold beer within reach. The Swedish band Irene seems to agree and dedicated a song to it:Irene - Christmas On The Beach
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Great VoiceGreat Song
Great Vibe
Great Christmas Love
Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
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Richard Hawley, former member of The Longpigs, celebrates Christmas with a exclusively free download of his lovely version of 'Silent Night'. Pure classiness as usual.
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Sounds Familyre presents a free compilation of new interpretations of traditional Christmas carols and some originals by their own artists. These two songs are my favorites, but you can find the rest of the songs (and the artwork) here.Danielson - Christmas Eve Nite
Dan Zimmerman - In The Bleak Midwinter
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Okay, here's a scary Christmas story for you.
It all starts with an appointment with a trained therapist:
Pressure applied to a point on the underside of your big toe triggers vivid technicolour memories of Christmases past. A trained therapist removes your sock.
You lie back with a sigh (...) You are a little girl again...
So, here starts the memory. A young girl is on a train. It's Christmas time. It's also cold, the people in second class must really be cold. The train stops, her caretaker is asleep and a kid a little bit older askes her to come outside and play, which she does. Then the train starts moving again... She can jump onto the locomotive just in time...
The engineer is unmistakeably Santa Claus. You inch back into the shadows, hoping he doesn't notice you. He looks deranged. But He sees you. He sees everything.
"Feel sorry for the people in second class. Eh..?!" He booms.
And then his laughter. His terrible booming laughter.
Peter Blegvad & John Greaves - Christmas Past
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Okay, I joined this blog last year to contribute some Japanese Christmas music, so I feel it's my duty to post some this year too.
Not that I mind :)
Here are five whispery songs about snow, to get into the seasonal spirit!
Piana - Snow Bird
Swing Slow - Yuki-ya-konko
Yoko Ono - Snow Is Falling All The Time
Kahimi Karie - Melt the Snow
Cinnamon Toast Crunch - Lord, It's Winter And Snowing Outside
(I'm not sure what yuki-ya-konko means... yuki is snow, so yuki-ya would be a snow-shop. It's a traditional children's song)
(I didn't think posting Yoko's song "Mum's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow" would help christmas spirits, but you can find it here)
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There are dozens of covers of John & Yoko's Happy X-Mas (War is Over), but not many have something to add to the original. These three versions, however manage to be even more dramatic, bombastic and emotional than the original - that's why I love them.
The Polyphonic Spree - Happy Christmas (War is Over)
The K-Foundation- K.Cera Cera (War Is Over If You Want It)
Antony and George - Happy Christmas (War is Over)
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On Christmas Day last year, I posted my very first yuleblog sampler - a "best of" compilation from all of my shares of the previous year. Nothing new was added, a fancy cover & booklet was thrown in, and that was that.
Thanks to my overextended schedule of the last several months, I wasn't able to complete what I wanted to do for this season. Many albums I've obtained over the past year are sitting inside a box waiting to be touched. Several of these albums have been already shared out across the sharity network:
Arthur Godfrey - Christmas With
Gary Mann - Christmas With
Seeburg - The Sound & Color Of Christmas
Ethel Smith - Christmas Music
Santa's Helpers - All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
Swing Along With Santa's Snowmen
Susie & Allie - Christmas With
I've decided to sample the albums that you and I didn't get to hear. These are selections from full albums that I hope to share at some point down the road (unless someone beats me to it - Ernie's the 5:2 favorite right now).
These won't be included in a zip file - I don't have the time to upload that big of a creature. Instead, these will be available as individual tracks so you can pick and choose the ones you want.
I also have a front and back cover ready but no booklet. If someone wants to whip up a booklet using this picture, post a link in the comments section so everyone can get a copy.
Your 2007 Christmas Yuleblog Sampler:
Track 1 - Klara Solen Pa Himmelen Den LyserAke Jelving - Christmas In Sweden
Capitol Records - T 10079 - 195?
Capitol Records issued many of these "Christmas In..." albums - this is one of three I had hoped to share. Original 1950s pressing according to Goldmine!
Track 2 - Jingle Bell RockJim Baker - A Steel-Guitar Christmas
Power Pak Records / Gusto - PO-506 - 1974/1975
This was one of three Power Pak / Gusto Christmas records I had hoped to share.
Track 3 - The Carolers (Vocal)The Sing 'N' Do Company - Christmas Windows
Sing 'N' Do Inc - 033 - 19??
A full holiday program for your school! Side one is the vocals, side two is instrumental so your kids can sing!
Track 4 - The Wise Men Who Followed The Christmas StarThe Kid's Bible Club - At Christmastime
Sword Records - S-1409-LP - 196?
Indiana leads the nation in religious albums sent to the vinyl dustbin - a mix of Bible stories & songs.
Track 5 - White ChristmasPatricia Wilde - Christmas Carols In Percussion
Acorn Records - Acorn 692 - 19??
The cover is striking but this is your typical budget Christmas organ & chimes LP. Acorn Records?
Track 6 - Good King WenceslasLongstreth & Escosa - Christmas With
Carriage Records - CRLP-5031 - 19??
This one comes from Fort Wayne - hometown to one of the duelling harpists & recorded here as well!
Track 7 - O Holy NightMerrill Womach - Sings Christmas Carols
Melodies Divine - LP 6801 - 1968
A Christian artist who survived a fiery plane crash. Ernie's gonna share this one soon - check out Merrill's MySpace page!
Track 8 - Rock Around The Christmas TreeCharles & Baker - Nashville Harmonica At Christmas Time
Power Pak Records / Gusto - PO-502 - 1974/1975
This was one of three Power Pak / Gusto Christmas records I had hoped to share.
Track 9 - Tiha NoćSacred Heart School Choir - Sings Croatian & English Christmas Carols
Galewood Records - GR 12561 - 19??
South Chicago school choir sing "Silent Night" in Croatian on this "for home use only" album!
Track 10 - Abe WaneneLes Troubadours Du Roi Baudonin - Christmas In The Congo
Philips Records - PCC 207 - 1972
The title of the album says all - lots of authentic Congo Christmas songs. World music, anyone?
Track 11 - Frosty The SnowmanThe Jim Glaser Singers - Old Time Christmas Singing With
Starday Records - SLP 149 - 1961
A great mix of country, gospel, and rockabilly! If I only had more time... and how 'bout that cover?
Track 12 - Buon Natale (Merry Christmas)Various Artists - Christmas In Italy
Capitol Records - T 10093 - 196?
Capitol Records issued many of these "Christmas In..." albums - this is one of three I had hoped to share.
Track 13 - Ave MariaHeino - A Festive German Christmas
Peters International - PLD 7064 - 1969
The one and only Heino! Side one is a 20 minute Christmas medley - side two is mostly religious songs.
Track 14 - Christmas LetterSonny James - My Christmas Dream
Capitol Records - T 2589 - 1966
This is a three hanky tearjerker! This is a mono copy - I'm gonna have to find the stereo one now!
Track 15 - An Editorial from the New York Sun,Christmas 1897
Various Artists - A Christmas Greeting
Recording For The Blind Inc. - 1964
Celebs read to the blind! Louis Jourdan introduces Edward G. Robinson who reads "Yes, Virginia..."
Track 16 - Santa Claus Is Coming To TownJan August - Christmas Favorites With
Mercury Records - MG 20160 - 1955
This album and I went 15 rounds - side one has craters and I tried unsuccessfully to get it transferred several times.
Track 17 - C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-SAnita Bryant - The Miracle Of Christmas
Word Records - WST-8558-LP - 1972
After she romped with Bob Hope in Vietnam and before she took on the gay community, Anita recorded this.
Track 18 - Deck The Halls With Boughs Of HollyAl Goodman & His Orchestra - Play A Christmas Symphony
Parade Records - XSP-403 - 195?
A budget release with some incredible sounds! Lush strings, majestic - this is quite fantastic!
Track 19 - HosiannaIngvar Wixell - Christmas Music Of Sweden
Capitol Records - DT-10485 - 1965
Famed opera star Wixell belts out some Swedish Christmas tunes - this will wake you up!
Track 20 - Blue ChristmasVic Jordan - Christmas Banjo
Power Pak Records / Gusto - PO-501 - 1974/1975
This was one of three Power Pak / Gusto Christmas records I had hoped to share.
Track 21 - Indian Christmas CarolThe Klaudt Indian Family - Peace On Earth
Family Tone Records - KF-908 - 196?
An Indian gospel group from Atlanta, the Klaudts recorded and put this out on their own label!
Track 22 - Christmas MedleyBob Ralston - Christmas Hymns & Carols (STEREO)
RCA Camden Records - CAS-994 - 1966
One of the first albums I've ever shared, I finally found a stereo copy (still sealed, no less!)
Track 23 - Kling, Glöckchen, Kling (Sound, Little Bell, Sound)Bielefelder Kinderchor - Christmas In Germany
Capitol Records - T 10095 - 196?
Capitol Records issued many of these "Christmas In..." albums - this is one of three I had hoped to share.
Track 24 - The First ChristmasVarious Artists - Cricket On The Hearth
RCA Victor - LSO-1140 - 1967
Another soundtrack to a Rankin/Bass animated Christmas special. The DVD is out, why not the soundtrack?
Track 25 - We Wish You A Merry ChristmasThe Jack Halloran Singers - The Little Drummer Boy
Dot Records - DLP 25233 - 1957
Some people confuse their title song with the Harry Simeone Chorale's famous version - so I picked the last song!
High resolution front and back covers
This is my next to last share of the 2007 downloading season, my final post this year, and my final post for some time to come. In the next days and weeks, I will be helping my son with his first Christmas play at school - Alex is one of the Three Kings. My theater background should help him properly.
My family's schedule is changing constantly (school, field trips, family trips, etc) and thanks to job description changes in my wife's job, I might be heading back to the workplace. I haven't drawn a paycheck since I became a stay-at-home dad eight years ago - this could be deadly. I'll try to post here as best as I can.
Some things you should know:
1.) All of my shares will be taken down on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008 - download 'em now!
2.) If there is something you would like to see posted in the future, please visit this entry.
3.) We are not reviewing Christmas comps again next February - please refrain from sending anything (unless it's a real cool OOP Christmas album or money).
4.) My final share comes on December 26th at Otis Fodder's 365 Days Project - mark it on your calendar!
I wish all of you a very Happy Hannukah, a Happy Sinterklassavond, a Happy Saint-Nicolas Day, a Happy Winter Solstice, a Happy Boxing Day, a Merry Kwanzaa, a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
War is over (if you want it)... Peace
Capt
